The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-09-08


ing his hand to his hip, where hung q
heavy revolver.
Tom was too quick for him. Snatch
ing from the corner an old single bar
relied fowling piece given him by one
of the miners. he covered the stranger
in an instant.
drop that or I'll riddle you with
charge of buckshot," he said, but not
trace of his inward excitement was
discernible in his voice.
By this time a small crowd had gath
cred from the neighboring shanties.
"Thunderw exclaimed old Jimmy
North, as his eyes rested on the scowl-
ing face OF Toms would-be assailant,
.'it's Black Mike. I thought he was
Hung, ehp" surlily interrupted the
gentleman in question, whose right
hand had left the revolver butt; ''well,
amt, an what's more, I've come
back here to the shanty 1 built an the
claim l left nigh eighteen years ago
any one got anything to say agin itp"
1t was evident to Tom, who turned
his troubled face to the bystanders,
that no one had. "Black Nike"
otherwise Michael Deelish-with half
dozen aliases-was one of those
characters not unlike the "Bad Man
of Bitter Creek" known to the mining
districts of southwestern Montana.
He had been by turns a gambler, con-
vict, ticket-of-leave man, digger and
lounger. Old North,N who had been
one of the original discoverers of Ma
goari, remembered him as one of the
community In his own day, and that
he had abandoned his claim after tax
ing out nearly two thousand pounds in
gold.
"You better give up the shanty
peaceable, my lad," he said to Tom,
''mebbe some of us'll find room for
YOU"
mo need of his leavin' less he wants
to-" put In the burly miner in surly
tone, "there's two hunks here; he's
welcome to one of 'em, an if he wants
to go shares on the claim, 1 don't
mind"
This was quite concession ON the
part of Mr.. Deelish, and Tom was ad-
vised to take up with it. But indeed
he had no other resource. Until he
was lucky enough to make more than
he had been doing, he had no money
to hire another shanty, and all the
rest of the old claims were taken up.
Every well," he finally said, and
without being invited Black Mike pro-
ceeded to help himself literally to
Toms tea and t'damper."
1t soon became evident that Mr..
Deelish's idea of working the claim on
halves differed essentially from the
usual method. That is to say, Tom
did most of the work and halved the
scanty proceeds with his new partner.
who spent most of his time smoking
and drinking brandy obtained ION
tick" at the canteen.
IF you don't like it you kin leave"
he said, whenever Tom spiritedly ex-
pressed his views on the subject And
as Toms luck grew poorer, he could
not save enough to help him get even
as far as Ballarat So he STAYED.
Perhaps because tired of inaction,
Black Mike finally took an industrious
fit. Working vigorously at one end of
the claim, while Tom piled pick and
shovel at the other, he began tunnel
ing toward his young partner, who in
turn worked his way slowly toward
Deelish, both carefully .'shoring up, +"
! as they went along.
But their utmost toll did not avail
them anything. A few small nuggets
from time to time, this was all that
rewarded their search. And one morn,
ing Tom woke up to find that his part
ner had decamped, taking with him not
only the canvas bag containing their
joint savings, but also the little one,
which held his own private store. He
had buried this last under loose slab
| in the floor, but Black Mike had dis
covered the hiding place in some way,
and leyanted with the whole.
| Threats OF vengeance were freely
made by the other miners-a perfectly
safe proceeding when Black Mike was
miles away. Tom, far heavier hearted
than ever, swallowed his sorrows and
his scanty breakfast, and started for
his claim. What prompted him to en-
ter the excavation made by his ras-
cally partner. rather than his own,
is one of those inexplicable things for
which there is no accounting. Some
men call it Providence Others,
''chance."
Induced by whatever cause, Tom
crawled in with lantern and pick and
began work in the narrow aperture
where he could only sit, not stand.
stopping from time to time to remove
the dislodged earth in a rude drag
which he pulled after him by rope.
"Deelish didn't even take the trouble
to half shore up" he muttered Grossly
as he noticed how insecurely placed
were some of the short props.
'.Now look at thatP he exclaimed
aloud, pressing his foot against on'
back of him. 81 can shake 1t.
| But the action suited to the worC
was q terrible mistake. The prop anC
plank It. supported gave way. ant
with deafening crash the tunne
eaved in behind him.
There was but moment for col
lected thought. Already he breathel
with difficulty in the confined space o
five or six feet which remained. Be
hind him were tons ofearth. 1t woul(
be hours before his absence would b,
| discovered.
As nearly as he could estimate onl,
asfew cubic feet of earth remained be
tween the two miniature tunnels
which had been slowly approachin.
each other for a fortnight.
Nerved with the energy of despair
Tom piled his pick vigorously, we
with care, packing down the thu
| AOOoChCSA Chh bAs W AAnhC AOSAAA 90 AAS 80.
vanced--every moment fearing to b.
buried beneath some falling mass.
Suddenly his pick struck something
hard. but It never occurred to him, ii
the fight for life and liberty, what tn
obstruction might be. till he saw b.
the light of his bull's-eye lantern tn
dull gleam of yellow metal.
Yet what would gold avail unless b
could reach the light and air; tn
latter especially. for he was gaspinI
for breathP
He hardly glanced at the dislodgec
nugget, which fell before him till-oh
Joy Of joys-his pick penetrated int
the tunnel beyond, and with a fe,
more strokes the cavity was made larg
enough for him to squeeze himsel
through.
Five minutes later faint shout fror
the mouth of the Yankee lads tunne
drew several eyes in that direction.
: 10 81 believe the boy has struck i'll" eS
J claimed old North, leaping out of tn
: trench and hurrying toward Tom, who
, pale as death, reeking with perspira